Dozens of old graves found under Toronto church parking lot

Archeologists have discovered remains of at least 57 people

Archeologists have found dozens of sets of century-old human remains under the parking lot of a Catholic church in Toronto.

St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, which is in the Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West area, shares its name with an adjacent elementary school that is due for rebuilding.

This undated photo shows the old St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, which was originally founded in the 1850s in the old Village of Weston. The image appears to show grave markers behind it. (Weston Historical Society)

The archeologists, who were brought in to do test digs, found the graves of at least 57 people under the parking lot.

The coffins and grave markers date as far back as 1866.

As well, "there are dozens of bodies that are still there," said Ron Williamson, lead archeologist with the project.

The church was originally founded in the old Village of Weston in the 1850s.

The remains of dozens of people have been found under a church parking lot near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West in Toronto. (CBC)

The archeologists are marking the locations of the graves.

"Then we'll be in a position to examine what we have found against the plans for redevelopment and make prudent decisions about what to do," Williamson said.

The archeologists will keep digging until they determine there are no additional graves.

The dig site is next to a strip of Metrolinx-owned property where work is being done on the long-awaited Union Pearson Express.

Click on the video above to see a full report from the CBC's Trevor Dunn.